San Benito County Recorder Information

Land records in San Benito County are recorded by the County Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Francisco Diaz.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: General Information | San Benito County, CA · Office of the County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

StatewideThe recorder charges $1 extra per page or sheet when printing on printed forms is spaced more than nine lines per vertical inch or more than 22 characters and spaces per inch (Gov. Code § 27361(a)(1)). Counties may adopt additional fees: up to $10 per real estate instrument for the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund upon a board of supervisors resolution (Gov. Code § 27388); $1 for the first page for a social security number truncation program (Gov. Code § 27361(d)); $1 per instrument fees for micrographics/archive, business-day operation, and indexing within two business days (Gov. Code § 27361.4); and up to $1 per instrument for an electronic recording delivery system (Gov. Code § 27397). A recorder may charge an additional $20 recording fee when a document evidencing a change in ownership is presented without a concurrent Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (Rev. & Tax. Code § 480.3(b)).

Release of lien by a government entity: $20.00 (GC27361.3). Conformed copies: $2.00 each, 2 maximum. Map recording: $9.00 first page, $3.00 second page. Notification of involuntary lien: $7.00 first debtor, $7.00 each additional debtor. Preliminary 20-day notice: $50.00. Financing statements: $10.00 for 1-2 pages, $20.00 for 3 or more pages. Official copies: $5.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page. Certified copies: $20.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page.

Transfer tax

Documentary Transfer Tax. $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof of consideration or value exceeding $100 (county); cities may impose one-half that amount. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911)

StatewideA county's documentary transfer tax is imposed by board of supervisors ordinance under Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a). A city within a taxing county may impose its own tax at one-half the county rate (§ 11911(b)), and a credit is allowed against the county tax for the city tax (§ 11911(c)). Some charter cities levy their own rates. Every taxed document must show on its face the amount of tax due and the incorporated or unincorporated location of the realty (§ 11932).

County Documentary Transfer Tax Ordinance: San Benito County Code § 5.03.001 et seq. (Ord. 969). The county computes the tax at $.55 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value, excluding liens or encumbrances already of record. Applicable city conveyance taxes are collected along with it at the time of recording.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Fee Schedule 2026 · Recording Information | San Benito County, CA · California Government Code § 27361 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27388 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11932 (FindLaw)

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideAt least a 1/2-inch margin on the two vertical sides except in the space reserved for recording information. The left-hand 3 1/2 inches of the top 2 1/2 inches of the first page is used to show the name of the person requesting recording and the return name and address.

StatewideIf the first page does not meet the recording-space requirements, a separate page meeting them and showing the document title must be attached to the front. A document that modifies, releases, or cancels a previously recorded document must state the recorder identification number or book and page of that document. A deed of trust or mortgage with power of sale must specify the trustor's or mortgagor's address and contain a request for notice of default and sale.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (BOE-502-A) Statewide County assessor and recorder; form prescribed by the State Board of Equalization
  May be filed with the recorder concurrent with the recordation of any document effecting a change in ownership; the recorder may charge an additional $20 recording fee without it
• Transfer Tax Affidavit (TTA) San Benito County Clerk-Recorder; San Benito County Ordinance Code 5.03.001
  Must accompany any document that requires or may require Documentary Transfer Tax; required by county ordinance for all deeds recorded

Submitting documents

All documents presented for recording must be original, have wet signatures, or be a certified copy of a government agency record. If an envelope is provided for mail back, the address on the envelope must match the address on the document. Recording hours 8:30 - 8:45am are reserved for title companies.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recording Information | San Benito County, CA · Electronic Document Recording (eRecording) · California Government Code § 27361.5 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27361.6 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27321.5 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27280.5 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 480.3 (Onecle)